The day of Halloween arrived like a storm cloaked in silence.
Vincent stood in front of the mirror, water dripping from his hands as he stared at his own reflection. He splashed cold water on his face again, hoping it would drown the strange ache growing in his chest.
Why am I feeling… pity for her?
The thought hit him hard, unsettling. He had never allowed such softness to creep into his heart. Especially not for her.
Just then, the front door burst open.
"Today is really the day!" Charlotte chimed cheerfully, stepping inside with shopping bags in her hand. Her voice rang with excitement, but Vincent didn't share the sentiment. Not even close.
"Don't you feel… sad for killing her?" he asked without warning, his voice low and careful, almost unsure if he had said it aloud.
Charlotte froze. Her smile slipped.
"Why is that coming out of your mouth today?" she asked, her tone sharp but puzzled.
Vincent shrugged, masking the whirlwind inside him. "I was just asking."
Charlotte studied him for a long moment, then quietly dropped her bags. "V… don't tell me you're starting to pity her," she said, voice suddenly serious.
"I'm not," he replied, perhaps a little too quickly.
She stepped closer, the air between them thickening.
"You better not be," she warned. "Unless you're falling in love with her."
She turned to her wardrobe, pretending to focus on her outfit, but Vincent could tell she was tense. She was staying at his place tonight—an old arrangement they had both agreed on when the plan was still firm. But things had started to shift, and she could feel it.
"What dress are you wearing to the Halloween party?" Charllote asked but Vicent was quietly sipping blood disguised as wine, his thoughts miles away.
Charlotte paused mid-search.
"Vincent," she said, eyes narrowed, "what the hell is wrong with you?"
She turned fully to face him, the question already burning on her lips.
"You like her, don't you?"
Her hands brushed her hair back in frustration.
"V, what does this girl have that makes every male fall in love with her? Just tell me! What spell does she cast?"
Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears.
"I thought you were the only male friend who truly understood me… but I was wrong. She's changed your mind, hasn't she? From me… from our plans."
She took a shaky breath. "Should I tell Maya? That you're no longer in love with her either—but with Rosaline?"
Her voice cracked on the name. She was sick of it. Of her.
But Vincent didn't answer. Not with words. He just stood there, silent and lost in a sea of thoughts about Rosaline.
She's innocent… she believes I'm the best thing in her life. She doesn't know I'm her worst mistake.
---
Later that Morning...
The streets were alive with preparations. Orange and black streamers fluttered from windows, carved pumpkins stared with eerie grins, and little children practiced their howls and spells. Even in the broad daylight, Halloween's presence was felt. And by evening, the world would slip into a night of masks, magic, and mischief.
Halloween, once a Celtic festival known as Samhain, had evolved into something more mysterious over the centuries. What began as a way to honor the dead and protect the living from evil spirits had become a night of celebration—when the boundary between the worlds blurred. A night where creatures, curses, and hidden truths roamed freely under the moonlight.
---
Meanwhile…
Rosaline sat at home, her leg still bandaged from her recent injury. She sipped watermelon juice with a relaxed sigh, nestled among her friends in the cozy sitting room.
"So… are you really going to Halloween tonight?" Cassie asked, raising a brow.
Rosaline nodded, her lips brushing the straw. "Vincent wants me to be with him. And… couples usually spend such moments together. If I leave him alone, he might get bored—especially when he sees other couples."
But that wasn't her only reason.
She hadn't forgotten her promise—to make up for dancing with the Prince of Avalone. Her heart ached with guilt, even if she hadn't meant to hurt him. Tonight was about redemption… and maybe, a little bit of something more.
Though she was still limping, Rosaline had gone shopping with her friends earlier. The streets had been packed—overcrowded, buzzing with anticipation. Halloween fever had seized the world, from Paris to Avalone.
---
At 6 p.m. sharp…
Charlotte and Vincent dressed and made their way to the woods.
It wasn't his idea, but he didn't argue. Not yet. He couldn't tell her he no longer believed in the plan. That he no longer belonged to her side.
He was already slipping away.
---
Back at home...
Grandma Elira came back from work, her shoulders slumped with exhaustion. As she removed her shoes, she glanced at Rosaline and sighed. She knew the girl's eyes sparkled with a stubborn fire.
"I know I'm not in the best condition to ask this," Rosaline began cautiously, "and I know you'll say no, that vampires or whatever do exist—but Grandma, why can't I go? Just give me one clear reason."
Elira didn't answer immediately. She sat down heavily and stared at her.
"You're asking again." Her voice was quiet, weary. "You never stop. And I know… no matter how I explain, you won't understand. But listen to me carefully, Rosaline."
Her tone dropped. Dark. Cold.
"Halloween is not a season for the living. It is the night that death dances in disguise. You think it's fun—decorations and parties. But it's a dangerous season. The air is different. The spirits… hungry. And you—with your wounds—you're a walking invitation. Don't you dare go out there. Do you hear me?"
Rosaline nodded slowly… but her heart had already made its choice. She was going.
She always thought her grandmother was just old-fashioned. She wouldn't understand—not like her friends, her classmates, her age mates. They got her. They believed in living, not hiding.
Grandma Elira sighed, then stood and went to her wooden locker. With slow fingers, she pulled out an old videotape and placed it gently on the table.
" Listen to me, while the others are celebrating Halloween tonight… you watch this instead."
Rosaline frowned. "What is it?"
Her grandmother's eyes softened with memory.
"It's your past. A recording of your parents… me… and you. You were only one year old. Watch it,No ! we will watch it together to bring back memories "
The tape looked ancient, dusty at the edges. Something about it made Rosaline pause.
Something in her bones whispered: Everything is about to change.